The Gypsy and the Bobby — A Study of Police Relationships with an Indigenous Ethnic Minority
| Author | Roy D. Ingleton |
| Date | 01 April 1978 |
| DOI | 10.1177/0032258X7805100204 |
| Published date | 01 April 1978 |
| Subject Matter | Article |
ROY
D.
INGLETON,
M.LL.,
A.M.B.LM.,
Superintendent, Kent County Constabulary
THE GYPSY
AND
THE
BOBBY-
ASTUDY OF POLICE
RELATIONSHIPS
WITH
AN
INDIGENOUS ETHNIC
MINORITY
1. Introduction
Few people have provoked more diametrically opposing opinions
and attitudes than have the gypsies.
For
close on 500years they have
been welcomed and harassed, feted and punished, loved and hated
by the people of the contemporary society in which they found
themselves. As instruments of the establishment, the police have
been much to the fore, especially when repressive measures were
felt to be called for, and the object of this study is to look more
closely at the police attitudes towards these people.
2. Summary
The reader will see how the police have passed through periods
of grudging tolerance, active hostility, repression and harassment,
to a current, more liberal attitude in response to positive govern-
mental measures to solve the problem by the provision of proper
sites. There is every possibility that the next generation of policemen
will not be faced with this problem and it is perhaps right that
contemporary and earlier attitudes should be examined now before
time mellows the memory and we forget just what our feelings and
reactions were.
This, therefore, is the study of a problem which will hopefully be
resolved before we enter yet another century of conflict.
3. Who are the Gypsies?
It
is now generally accepted that the original gypsies came from
the Indian subcontinent and found their way to Europe by way of
Asia Minor in the 14th and 15th centuries. The first record of
gypsies in the British Isles is in the 16th Century when they were
mentioned in contemporary Scottish documents. That they were
already in England, or arrived shortly afterwards is made clear by
the Statute of 1530 (22 Hen. 8 c 10) which speaks of
"
...
outlandish persons calling themselves Egyptians
...
going from place
to place in great company
...
telling men's and women's fortunes
...
by
craft and subtility deceiving people of their money and committing many
heinous Felonies and Robberies".
181 April 1978
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